Gandalf Murphy in Brattleboro, VT, Groundhog's Day 2008

(click photo for slideshow)

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
"The Church", Brattleboro VT

Joziah Longo - Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Tink Lloyd - Accordian, cello, vocals, theramin
Sharkey McEwen - Lead guitar, mandolin, vocals
Tony Zuzulo - Percussion
Chen Longo - bass
Special guest: Derrik Jordan on electric violin

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams ("the Circus" for short) is a band which lives up to its name. Take some mystery and some mysticism, add a generous dose of whimsy and a dash of psychedelia, mix in a good amount of showmanship and a lot of fun and the result is magic. The Circus are one of our favorite bands, we see them whenever we can.

This concert was particularly fun for us, since my wife and I know the couple that produced it and we went up early to help with the show. Basically we acted as coolies - helping set up and take down the hall, carrying the band's equipment, helping set up the merchandise table, selling refreshments and helping at the door., etc. It was an interesting glimpse into all the work that has to happen in the background to put on a folk concert.

The concert was in The Church, an old Unitarian Church on Main St. in Brattleboro VT, which has been converted into an arts center. The building has the superb acoustics found in such places. Impressive amounts of stained glass, ancient wallpaper and painted figures on the ceiling added interest. It must have been spectacular when it was new.

The concert opened with Walt (half of the production team, so our host for the evening) presenting a scholarly lecture on the history of Ground Hog Day, because Tink insisted. It was interesting, and amusing.

"Local hero" Derrik Jordan joined the band for a few songs. He played an electric violin, which is an odd-looking thing that sounds wonderful. The addition of violin to Already Broken was especially fine.

They played two sets, of 45 minutes to 1 hour each.

Set 1:

• Pushing Up Daisies - this is a new song which they've been playing for a few months, it will be on their new album, due out March 1.
• Desire
• Circus of Dreams
• Flapjacks From the Sky
• Light a Way
• Scarecrow / Syd
• Tuning Music - The Incredible String Band's Big Ted - , played while Derrik Jordan was setting up his violin and tuning.
• High on the Hilltop (by Merle Haggard), with Derrik Jordan on fiddle
• Already Broken, with Derrik Jordan on fiddle
• Hey Good Lookin' (by Hank Williams), with Derrik Jordan on fiddle

Set 2:

• Fumes - Joziah started to play the song solo while the others were setting up, then one by one the rest of the band joined in.
• Tink (I Know It's You) - as usual Sharkey played slide mandolin on this one.
• It's a Dream - requested by Mary, the other half of the production team and so our other host for the evening; possibly the first song Joziah ever wrote for Tink when they first met.
• China Doll (by David Bowie) / The Yodel Song - this was amusing. Tink had told a story about meeting David Bowie. Then Joziah gave his standard introduction to The Yodel Song, but instead started playing China Doll, as a joke. The rest of the band joined in, and then one by one they each segued into The Yodel Song. Very impressive musicianship since it was apparently unrehearsed.
• Sullivan Lane
• In Her Own World
• Talkin' to the Buddha, with the Slambovian Superstring Theory introduction
• Alice in Space

Encore:

• Moondog House